30: The Chapter about Happiness

30. Sukhavarga
The Chapter about Happiness

(52 Verses)

[30.1]
[stm.]

Jayād vairaṁ prasavate, duḥkhaṁ śete parājitaḥ,
upaśāntaḥ sukhaṁ śete, hitvā jayaparājayau.

From victory arises hatred, the defeated one lives unhappily, the one at peace lives happily, having abandoned victory and defeat.

[30.2]
[stm.]

Paraduḥkhopadhānena ya icchet sukham ātmanaḥ,
vairasaṁsargasaṁsakto duḥkhān na parimucyate.

There is one who would desire happiness for himself by causing suffering for another, but the one who is attached to an involvement with hatred is not fully freed from suffering.

[30.3]
[stm.]

Sukhakāmāni bhūtāni yo daṇḍena vihiṁsati,
ātmanaḥ sukham eṣāṇaḥ, sa vai na labhate sukham.

One who harms with a stick beings who desire happiness, while seeking happiness himself, surely that one won’t find happiness.

[30.4]
[stm.]

Sukhakāmāni bhūtāni yo daṇḍena na hiṁsati,
ātmanaḥ sukham eṣānaḥ, sa pretya labhate sukham.

One who does not harm with a stick beings who also desire happiness, while seeking happiness himself, that one will find happiness after death.

[30.5]
[adm.]

Dharmaṁ caret sucaritaṁ, nainaṁ duścaritaṁ caret,
Dharmacārī sukhaṁ śete hy asmiṁ loke paratra ca.

One should practice Dharma and good conduct, one should not practice bad conduct, one who lives in accordance with Dharma will live happily in this world and in the next world.

[30.6]
[stm. + sim.]

Dharmaḥ sadā rakṣati Dharmacāriṇaṁ,
chatraṁ mahadvarṣakāle yathaiva,
eṣānuśaṁso Dharme sucīrṇe:
na durgatiṁ gacchati Dharmacārī.

The Dharma always protects one who lives in accordance with Dharma, like a great parasol protects one during the rainy season, this is the advantage when the Dharma is well-practiced: the one who lives in accordance with Dharma does not go to a bad destination.

[30.7]
[stm.]

Dharmaḥ sadā rakṣati Dharmacāriṇaṁ,
Dharmaḥ sucīrṇaḥ sukham ādadhāti,
eṣānuśaṁso Dharme sucīrṇe:
na durgatiṁ gacchati Dharmacārī.

The Dharma always protects one who lives in accordance with Dharma, the Dharma well-practiced brings about happiness, this is the advantage when the Dharma is well-practiced: the one who lives in accordance with Dharma does not go to a bad destination.

[30.8]
[stm.]

Alpāpi santo bahavo jayanti,
susaṁvidhāne, na ’saṁvidhānam,
alpam api cec chraddadhāno dadāti,
tenaivāsau bhavati sukhī paratra.

Even a few good people are victorious over many, when well-prepared, not unprepared, Bernhard read susaṁvidhāne, na saṁvidhānam, but it is hard to see how this makes sense. We have to presume an ellipsis of the negative prefix for the sentence to work: susaṁvidhāne, na ’saṁvidhānam. if one with faith gives even a little, because of that one is happy in the next world.

[30.9]
[stm. + sim.]

Dānaṁ ca yuddhaṁ ca samānam āhur,
naite guṇāḥ kāpuruṣeva santi,
saṁgrāmaveleva hi dānavelā
tulyaṁ bhavet, kāraṇasaṁgraheṇa.

Giving and warfare are similar, they say, these virtues are not in a bad person, for the time of giving should be like the time of battle, through the mustering of resources.

[30.10]
[stm.]

Ayaṁ hi pratyūhaśatāni jitvā,
mātsaryam ākramya ca śatrubhūtam,
śurād dhi taṁ śūrataraṁ vadāmi,
dadāti yo dānam asaktacittaḥ.

This one, being victorious over hundreds of obstacles, and after going beyond selfishness, which has become an enemy, truly, I say he is more heroic than a hero, the one who gives a gift with an unattached mind.

[30.11]
[stm.]

Sukho vipākaḥ puṇyānām, abhiprāyaḥ samṛdhyate,
kṣipraṁ ca paramāṁ śāntiṁ, nirvṛtiṁ so ’dhigacchati.

Happiness is the result of merit, the intention succeeds, there is supreme peace, that one quickly attains emancipation.

[30.12]
[stm.]

Parato hy upasargāṁś ca Devatā Mārakāyikāḥ,
antarāyaṁ na śaktiṣṭāḥ kṛtapuṇyasya kartu vai.

Dangers from another, and from the Devatās of the host of Māra, are powerless to make an obstruction for one whose merit is surely accomplished.

[30.13]
[stm.]

Dharmaprītiḥ sukhaṁ śete, viprasannena cetasā,
Āryapravedite Dharme ramate paṇḍitaḥ smṛtaḥ.

The one who has joy in Dharma lives happily, with a clear mind, the mindful and wise one delights in the Dhamma proclaimed by the Noble Ones.

[30.14]
[stm.]

Yeṣāṁ Dharmarataṁ cittam, anupādāya nirvṛtim,
smṛtyupasthānanirataṁ, Bodhyaṅgeṣu ca saptasu.

Those whose mind delights in the Dharma, who are emancipated through non-clinging, delight in the establishment of mindfulness, and the seven factors of Awakening.

[30.15]
[stm.]

Yeṣāṁ Dharmarataṁ cittam, anupādāya nirvṛtim,
ṛddhipādarataṁ caiva, mārge cāṣṭāṅgike ratam.

Those whose mind delights in the Dharma, who are emancipated through non-clinging, delight in the bases of success, and delight in the eightfold path.

[30.16]
[stm.]

Sukhaṁ te bhuñjate piṇḍaṁ, dhārayanti ca cīvaram,
sukhaṁ caṅkramaṇaṁ teṣāṁ parvateṣu guhāsu ca.

They happily eat their almsfood, and wear their robes, happy their walking in meditation in the mountains and caves.

[30.17]
[stm.]

Kṣemaprāptā hi sukhitā, dṛṣṭadharmābhinirvṛtāḥ,
sarvavairabhayātītās, tīrṇā loke viṣaktikām.

For having attained safety and happiness, completely emancipated in this present life, having gone beyond all hatred and fear, they have crossed over attachments in the world.

[30.18]
[stm.]

Sukho vivekas tuṣṭasya, śrutadharmasya paśyataḥ,
avyāvadhyaḥ sukhaṁ loke, prāṇabhūteṣu saṁyamaḥ.

There is happiness in seclusion for the one content, who has heard the Dharma, and who sees, there is happiness for him free from ill-will in the world, who has restraint towards breathing beings.

[30.19]
[stm.]

Sukhaṁ virāgatā loke kāmānāṁ samatikramaḥ,
asmimānasya vinaya – etad vai paramaṁ sukham.

Detachment is happiness in the world, the complete overcoming of sense desires, but for the one who has removed the conceit “I am” – this is indeed the supreme happiness.

[30.20]
[stm.]

Sukhaṁ yāvaj jarā śīlaṁ, sukhaṁ śraddhā pratiṣṭhitā,
sukhaṁ cārtharatā vācā, pāpasyākaraṇaṁ sukham.

Virtue till old age is good, established faith is good, delight in meaningful words is good, doing nothing wrong is good.

[30.21]
[stm.]

Sukhaṁ mātṛvyatā loke, sukhaṁ caiva pitṛvyatā,
sukhaṁ śrāmaṇyatā loke, tathā Brāhmaṇyatā sukhaṁ.

Respecting one’s mother is good in the world, also respecting one’s father is good, respecting ascetics is good in the world, and respecting Brahmins is good.

[30.22]
[stm.]

Sukhaṁ Buddhasya cotpādaḥ, sukhaṁ Dharmasya deśanā,
sukhaṁ Saṁghasya sāmagrī, samagrāṇāṁ tapaḥ sukham.

The arising of the Buddha is good, the teaching of the Dharma is good, the harmony of the Saṁgha is good, the ardent practice of those in harmony is good.

[30.23]
[stm.]

Śīlavantaḥ sukhaṁ dṛṣṭuṁ, sukhaṁ dṛṣṭuṁ bahuśrutāḥ,
Arhantaś ca sukhaṁ dṛṣṭuṁ, vipramuktapunarbhavāḥ.

To see the virtuous is good, to see the learned is good, to see the Arhats is good, those freed from renewed existence.

[30.24]
[stm. + ana.]

Sukhā nadī sūpatīrthā, sukhaṁ Dharmajino jinaḥ,
prajñālābhaḥ sukho nityam, asmimānakṣayaḥ sukham.

Good is a river with beautiful fords, good is the victor, victorious through Dharma, the gaining of wisdom is always good, the destruction of the conceit “I am” is good.

[30.25]
[stm.]

Sukhaṁ darśanam āryāṇāṁ, saṁvāso ’pi sadā sukham,
adarśanena bālānāṁ nityam eva sukhī bhavet.

Meeting the noble ones is good, and living together is always good, through not meeting foolish people one would always be happy.

[30.26]
[stm. + sim.]

Bālasaṁsargacārī hi dīrghādhvānaṁ praśocati,
duḥkho bālair hi saṁvāso, hy amitrair iva sarvaśaḥ,
dhīrais tu sukhasaṁvāso, jñātīnām iva saṁgamaḥ.

For one who consorts with fools grieves greatly for a long time, there is suffering from living together with fools, as there always is with enemies, but living together with the steadfast is good, as with a gathering of his kin.

[30.27]
[stm.]

Durlabhaḥ puruṣo jātyo, nāsau sarvatra jāyate,
yatrāsau jāyate vīras, tat kulaṁ sukham edhate.

A person of such a birth is rare, that one is not born everywhere, wherever that hero is born, that family attains happiness.

[30.28]
[stm.]

Sarvathā vai sukhaṁ śete Brāhmaṇaḥ parinirvṛtaḥ,
yo na lipyate kāmebhir, vipramukto nirāsravaḥ.

A Brahmin who is emancipated lives happily in every way, one who is not defiled by desires, fully freed, without pollutants.

[30.29]
[stm.]

Sarvā hy āśāstayaś chitvā, vinīya hṛdayajvaram,
upaśāntaḥ sukhaṁ śete, śāntiṁ prāpyeha cetasaḥ.

Having cut off all hopes, having removed fever from the heart, the one at peace lives happily, having attained peace of mind here.

[30.30]
[adm.]

Mātrāsukhaparityāgād yaḥ paśyed vipulaṁ sukham,
tyajen mātrāsukhaṁ dhīraḥ, saṁpaśyaṁ vipulaṁ sukham.

From renouncing a limited good one might see a good that is large, the steadfast one should renounce that limited good, seeing the good that is large.

[30.31]
[stm.]

Yac ca kāmasukhaṁ loke, yac cāpi divijaṁ sukham,
tṛṣṇākṣayasukhasyaitat, kalāṁ nārghati ṣoḍaśīm.

That which is sensual happiness in the world, and even that happiness which is divine, to the happiness of the destruction of craving, is not worth a sixteenth part.

[30.32]
[adm.]

Nikṣipya hi guruṁ bhāraṁ, nādadyād bhāram eva tu,
bhārādānaṁ paraṁ duḥkhaṁ, bhāranikṣepaṇaṁ sukham.

Having put down the heavy burden, one should not take up another burden, taking up a burden is certainly suffering, putting down the burden is happiness.

[30.33]
[stm.]

Sarvaṭṛṣṇāṁ viprahāya sarvasaṁyojanakṣayāt,
sarvopadhiṁ parijñāya, nāgacchanti punarbhavam.

Having abandoned all craving from destroying all fetters, having fully known all adherence, they do not come again to existence.

[30.34]
[stm.]

Artheṣu jāteṣu sukhaṁ sahāyāḥ,
puṇyaṁ sukhaṁ jīvitasaṁkṣayeṣu,
tuṣṭiḥ sukhā yā tv itaretareṇa,
sarvasya duḥkhasya sukho nirodhaḥ.

Friends are good whenever needs arise, at the destruction of life merit is good, being content with whatever one has is good, the cessation of all suffering is good.

[30.35–30.36]
[stm. + sim.]

Ayoghanahatasyaiva jvalato jātavedasaḥ,
anupūrvopaśāntasya, yathā na jñāyate gatiḥ,
evaṁ samyagvimuktānāṁ, kāmapaṅkaughatāriṇām:
prajñāpayituṁ gatir nāsti prāptānām acalaṁ sukham.

Just as for an iron bar that is struck by fire and heat, and gradually cooling, the destination of that fire is not known, so for those perfectly freed, who have crossed over the swampy flood of desires: there is no destination to indicate for those who have attained unmoving happiness.

[30.37]
[stm.]

Yasyāntarato na santi kopā, itthaṁbhāvagataṁ ca yo nivṛttaḥ,
akhilaṁ taṁ sukhinaṁ sadā viśokaṁ – Devā nānubhavanti darśanena.

For the one who has no agitations internally, who has turned away from these destinies or states of existence, always open-hearted, happy, griefless – the Devas do not experience this through sight. Meaning: the Devas, even with their divine sight, cannot understand the state of the Arahat.

[30.38]
[adm.]

Sukhaṁ hi yasyeha na kiñcanaṁ syāt,
svākhyātadharmasya bahuśrutasya,
sakiñcanaṁ paśya vihanyamānaṁ,
janaṁ janeṣu pratibaddhacittam.

For the one who would have nothing here there is happiness, for the one who is learned in the well-proclaimed Dharma, see how one who has something is suffering vexation, he is a person whose mind is in bondage in regard to other people.

[30.39]
[adm.]

Sukhaṁ hi yasyeha na kiñcanaṁ syāt,
svākhyātadharmasya bahuśrutasya,
sakiñcanaṁ paśya vihanyamānaṁ,
janaṁ janeṣu pratibaddharūpam.

[30.40]
[adm.]

Sukhino hi janā hy akiñcanā,
Vedaguṇā hi janā hy akiñcanāḥ,
sakiñcanaṁ paśya vihanyamānaṁ,
janaṁ janeṣu pratibaddhacittam.

Happy indeed are those who have nothing, the Perfect Ones are people who surely have nothing, see how one who has something is suffering vexation, he is a person whose mind is in bondage in regard to other people.

[30.41]
[adm.]

Sukhino hi janā hy akiñcanā,
Vedaguṇā hi janā hy akiñcanāḥ,
sakiñcanaṁ paśya vihanyamānaṁ,
janaṁ janeṣu pratibaddharūpam.

Happy indeed are those who have nothing, the Perfect Ones are people who surely have nothing, see how one who has something is suffering vexation, he is a person who is in a state of bondage in regard to other people.

[30.42]
[stm.]

Sarvaṁ paravaśaṁ duḥkhaṁ, sarvam ātmavaśaṁ sukham,
sādhāraṇe vihanyante, yogā hi duratikramāḥ.

All that is in another’s power is painful, all that is one’s own power is pleasing, the common people suffer vexation, for yokes are difficult to transcend.

[30.43]
[decl.]

Susukhaṁ bata jīvāmo hy utsukeṣu tv anutsukāḥ,
utsukeṣu manuṣyeṣu viharāmo hy anutsukāḥ.

We who are without longing indeed live happily amongst those who are longing, amongst humans who are longing we live without longing.

[30.44]
[decl.]

Susukhaṁ bata jīvāmo yeṣāṁ no nāsti kiñcanam,
Mithilāyāṁ dahyamānāyāṁ, na no dahyati kiñcanam.

We who have nothing indeed live happily, while Mithilā is burning, nothing of ours burns.

[30.45]
[decl.]

Susukhaṁ bata jīvāmo hy ātureṣu tv anāturāḥ,
ātureṣu manuṣyeṣu viharāmo hy anāturāḥ.

We who are without sickness indeed live happily amongst those who are sick, amongst humans who are sick we live without sickness.

[30.46]
[decl.]

Susukhaṁ bata jīvāmo hiṁsakeṣu tv ahiṁsakāḥ,
hiṁsakeṣu manuṣyeṣu viharāmo hy ahiṁsakāḥ.

We who are non-violent indeed live happily amongst those who are violent, amongst humans who are violent we live without violence.

[30.47]
[decl.]

Susukhaṁ bata jīvāmo vairikeṣu tv avairikāḥ,
vairikeṣu manuṣyeṣu viharāmo hy avairikāḥ.

We who are without hatred indeed live happily amongst those who have hatred, amongst humans who have hatred we live without hatred.

[30.48]
[decl.]

Susukhaṁ bata jīvāmo heṭhakeṣu tv aheṭhakāḥ,
heṭhakeṣu manuṣyeṣu viharāmo hy aheṭhakāḥ.

We who are harmless indeed live happily amongst those who are harmful, amongst humans who are harmful we live without harming.

[30.49]
[decl.]

Susukhaṁ bata jīvāmo yeṣāṁ no nāsti kiñcanam,
prītibhakṣā bhaviṣyāmo Devā hy Ābhasvarā yathā.

We who have nothing indeed live happily, we will become feeders on joy, like the Radiant Devas.

[30.50]
[decl.]

Susukhaṁ bata jīvāmo yeṣāṁ no nāsti kiñcanam,
prītibhakṣā bhaviṣyāmo, satkāyenopaniḥśritāḥ.

We who have nothing indeed live happily, we will become feeders on joy, supported by the existing body. This is a difficult last pāda, but it seems we can interpret it to mean: supported temporarily by the existing body.

[30.51]
[rh.q.]

Grāme araṇye sukhaduḥkhaspṛṣṭo,
naivātmano no parato dadhāti,
sparśāḥ spṛśanti hy upadhiṁ pratītya,
niraupadhiṁ kiṁ sparśāḥ spṛśeyuḥ?

Touched by pleasure and pain in the village or wilderness, one does not consider it as due to oneself or another, contacts affect one with adherence as condition, how could contacts affect one without adherence?

[30.52]
[stm.]

Sāpatrapāḥ satpuruṣā bhavanti,
na kāmahetor lapayanti santaḥ,
spṛṣṭā hi duḥkhena tathā sukhena,
noccāvacāḥ satpuruṣā bhavanti.

Good people are concerned, the good do not talk out of desire, when touched by pleasure or by suffering, good people are not elated or depressed.

Sukhavargaḥ, 30

The Chapter about Happiness, the Thirtieth